Timing light



Jan. 2o, 1942'. F. J. BADALEWSKI 2,270,492

TIMING LIGHT Filed Nov. v8, 1958 Patented jan. 20, 1942 TIMIN G LIGHT Frank J. Badalewski, Chicago, Ill., assignor to E. Edelmann & Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application November 8, 1938, Serial No. 239,593

(Cl. ,M-11.4)

2 Claims- My invention relates to improvements in timing lights, and particularly to a device of the character intended and adapted for use in connection with the ignition system of internal combustion engines to diagnose and :aid in `correction of motor troubles.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a timing light to be used as an ignition strobescope, to indicate irregularities in or improper operation of an internal combustion engine, through functioning of the ignition system., and to permit timing or resetting or other correction or remedial adjustment of the parts.

Another object is to so construct the illuminating portions that a clear and brilliant illumination is provided, and the light rays are vconcentrated and directed to a part desired to be observed in conjunction with or to be synchronized With the ashing of the light, and at the same time the light rays are shielded or kept from the eyes of the operator or observer to `thus permit a clear and sharp View of parts desired to be timed or synchronized.

A further object is to provide protecting and .shield structure for the usually -irangible light tube, to thus guard against damage to or breaking of the parts While the instrument is being handled or is in use, or Where it is likely to be struck or jarred or subjected to any other damaging forces.

Still another purpose of this invention is to provide a timing light of simple and inexpensive construction, which is yet sturdy enough to Withstand andresist ordinary shocks and conditions oi use and is of such size and design that it can be readily handled and manipulated in limited space and under conditions ordinarily encountered in use, and which will at the same time give sharp and instant and brilliant illumination to indicate the condition and operation of an ignition system and to permit adjustment and synchronization of ignition, action of governor, and other parts and portions of an engine ignition system.

With the above and other objects and purposes in View, some of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and others ci which are `inherent in the construction and use of the parts, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawing and thenpointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a timing light constructed in Iaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view through the instrument.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the lighting tube or element.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a light confining and reiiecting hood.

The body or housing I is preferably conveniently made up as a. cylindrical tube of hard fiber, or other suitable material, and is of a diameter and length to conveniently serve the dual function of a housing and a handle. A socket plug 2, .which may be of any suitable insulating material, is yinserted in one end of the body or housing I and is held in place therein by suitable fastenings 3, and a closure plug 4 lis inserted in the outer end of the body or housing I, and is held `in place by fastenings 5. The socket plug 2 has openings 6 and "I formed there.- through substantially parallel with the axial line of the housing I, and spaced apart.

A light tube 8, being a neon tube `or other gas lled tube capable of being energized by the apassage of high frequency current, has 'the ends thereof extending in substantially parallel spaced relation, as at .9 and I0, to fit Within the openings 6 and I of the socket plug y2. The ,arm terminating in the end .Illa-'is offset to extend sub.- stantially centrally or in axial alignment with the socket plug 2; and, the middle portion of ythe tube is carried in a helical or spiral coil, as at II, around this extending portion" and then is carried outwardly to merge into the end ,-9.

The socket plug 2 is preferably spaced slightly inwardly from the end of the housing I, and the tube 8 is thus held with the coiled portion II extending from the `end of'housing 5 and exposed beyond this end. Vacuumexhaustand gas sullply nipples can be provided `ononenor both of the ends 9 and I0, and when the :tube has been exhausted and the gaseous medium ,inserted and these nipples have been sealed ofi, laterally ex.-

tending tips will result, as indicated ,at I2 and I3, which tips `can be located to serve as stops engaging the ,outer side of the socket plug 2 to thus position and retain the light :tube with the coiled portion II thereof extending.

As has beenstated, the tube B 'Willibe exhausted and will then be vcharged with neon gas, or with other suitable conducting gaseous medium., so that as current or circuit connections are made With the electrodeslll .and 1:5 within the ends vof the tube, the tube Wi11 glow Yor light., upon :the passage of suitable .electric current therethrough,

Lead wires I6 and I1 passing through, and preferably suitably held Within openings I8 and I9 in the plug 4, have their inner ends connected at and 2l with the electrodes I4 and I5.

A cover globe 22, shaped somewhat after the manner of a small bell jar, of glass or other suitable transparent or translucent material is provided to t over the coiled portion Il of the light tube 8, with its open end bearing upon the end of the housing tube I, and this cover globe is preferably provided with an outwardly extending bead 23 around the open end. A ferrule 24 is provided to fit over the end of theV housing sleeve I against which the open end of the cover globe is disposedand this ferrule sleeve has an inturned flange 25 engaging the bead 23, substantially after the manner of a bezel ring, to hold the cover globe in proper position and in place. In the present instance I have shown screwsof fastenings 26 to hold the ferrule sleeve 24 in place, but it will be appreciated that any suitable form of fastening or securement can be employed in this connection.

In the use of my improved timing light, as an ignition stroboscope, one lead canbe connected with a spark plug or other part embraced in the high tension system of an automobile or other motor, and the other lead can be grounded; and, as current is supplied the coiled portion II of the tube 8 will be caused to glow with considerable intensity of light to penetrate or show through the cover globe 22. As it is desired to confine and concentrate this light upon a relatively small area or part, as for example a marking on an engine fly wheel or a balancer on a fan pulley, or the like, I provide a reflector hood 21 to confine and concentrate and reflect the light rays through one side ofthe cover globe 22. This reflector hood 21 can be made of sheet metal or of any other suitable material, and preferably extends peripherally around one side or a desired part of the cover globe, and over the end thereof. The area to be covered by this reflecting hood 21, both peripherally and over the end, may be varied to suit the particular conditions of use, and under some circumstances it may be found desirable to make the cover hood with a relatively narrow slit or opening along one side,l to thus concentrate a light line. The reflecting hood 21 has a flange 28 on the inner end thereof caught by the bezel-like flange 25 of the ferrule ring 24, to thus hold the reflecting hood 21 in the desired position. Obviously, the reflecting hood 21 can be made of any desired shape or size, and

of anysuitable material, and the inside of this hood can be painted or plated or polished or otherwise treated to provide a reflecting surface.

In the use of my improved timing light, the leads I6 and I1 can be connected, as has been set forth above, with suitable parts of an ignition and ground structure, and dashing of the light tube 8 will loccur at the instant and during the interval the current is supplied, thus giving a clear and brilliant and sharp indication of the passage of current and consequently of the operation of an engine ignition system, or other part with Which stroboscopic observation is being made. The light tube being exposed in considerable length will increase the intensity and brilliancy of the light to thus make readily visible any indicating point or line on a iiy wheel or any other point or indication mark desired to be observed, the cover globe 22 will protect this tube against breakage or` other damage, and the reflector Will afford protection for'the cover globe 2 aard-19:2

and will also concentrate and intensify the light rays to throw these upon a desired area while at the same time guarding against emanation of light rays to confuse or blind the operator or user.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specic embodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated that many changes may be made in the form, construction, arrangement and association of the parts, and also in the manner of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

,I claim:

1. A timing light comprising, a tubular handle, a lamp tube having its ends extending in substantially parallel spaced relation and having its Vintermediate light emitting portion formed in a helical or spiral coil, electrodes at the ends of the tube, lateral extensions on the end portions inwardly from the extreme ends thereof, a socket plug mounted in the end of said handle portion provided with substantially parallel extending spaced openings receiving and holding the ends of the light tube and with the lateral extensions bearing against the plug to thus retain the coiled light emitting portion extending beyond the end of the handle tube, a plug in the opposite end of the handle portion provided with spaced openings, Wires connected with the electrodes of the light tube passing through and held in the openings of said plug, a transparent cover globe mounted over the coiled light emitting portion of the light tube and having a beaded formation adjacent to the end of the handle tube, a flanged ferrule sleeve mounted on said handle tube engaging the beaded portion of the cover globe to retain the same in place, and a reflecting hood disposed on and over a part of the periphery and the end of the cover globe and also held in place by said anged ferrule ring.

2. A timing light for use in synchronizing parts of a high tension ignition system comprising, an elongated tubular body of insulating material, a plug having a pair of spaced openings therein tted and held within said tubular body adjacent to each end thereof, a bent lamp tube having its intermediate light-emitting portion formed in a spiral coil and having its ends extending in substantially parallel spaced relation for insertion in the spaced openings of the plug adjacent to one end of the tubular body and having lateral extensions on the end portions inwardly from the ends thereof as received through the openings of the plug for holding the light-emitting portion in position extending beyond the end of the body, terminals at the ends of the lamp tube, flexible cables connected with said terminals and passed through the openings of the second plug and consequently extending from the body at the end opposite to the extension of the lamp tube, a transparent cover globe mounted over the extending coiled light-emitting portion of the light tube and having a beaded formation engaging on the adjacent end of the body portion, a reflecting hood disposed on and over a part of the periphery and the'end of the cover globe and provided with an extending flange engaging with the flange of the cover globe, and a flanged ferrule sleeve mounted on the end of the body over and around the flanges of the cover globe and the reflecting hood and holding said parts in position upon said body.

FRANK J. BADALEWSKI. 

